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Hyderabad with Sarojini Naidu
Portraying India
Perceptions of India, inspired by the lives of those who embody its most authentic spirit
In this edition, we look at Hyderabad from the perspective of feminist icon, poet and activist Sarojini Naidu.
In studying the lives of those who have shaped change in the world, we discover the true meaning of fearlessness. Each faced unique challenges in their path to greatness and overcame them with unrelenting perseverance. A great example is Sarojini Naidu, a woman who, in the age of charismatic men, carved a niche for herself with her words. Lovingly called the ‘Nightingale of India’, for the lyrical quality of her literature and her great skill as an orator, she’s remembered fondly today as a feminist icon.
Not only did she enrich the lexicon of Indian English poetry through her literary achievements, but also contributed immensely to the Indian freedom struggle. Throughout her life, she advocated civil rights, anti-imperialism, and women empowerment. In walking the path that Sarojini Naidu showed, the women of the country acknowledge and pay homage to one of the foremost feminist luminaries the country has seen.
A Child Prodigy
Born in Hyderabad, to the principal of Nizam College and a Bengali poetess, she grew up in an influential household that believed in the power of education. The eldest of eight siblings, she, along with her family, went on to contribute significantly to the art & culture of the country. Sarojini ‘Chattopadhyay’ spent her college years in London and Cambridge where she met artists from the Aesthetic and Decadent movements.
Inspired by her education and the cultural atmosphere at the time, she began writing at the age of 12, using sense-evoking language and lyrical poetry of British Romanticism to portray India. There is no question, that while her tools might have been British, her sentiment was always one of Indian nationalism.
Inspired by her education and the cultural atmosphere at the time, she began writing at the age of 12, using sense-evoking language and lyrical poetry of British Romanticism to portray India. There is no question, that while her tools might have been British, her sentiment was always one of Indian nationalism.
A Gift to the Feminist Movement
In the early years of the 1900s, the nationalist movement in India was heavily male dominated. Sarojini Naidu, who was an orator par excellence, claimed that the true “nation-builders” were women, not men, and that without women’s active cooperation, the nationalist movement would be in vain. Her vision for the unified liberation of women and liberation of the nation, helped in the development of Women’s movement. With the visionary medical practitioner Muthulakshmi Reddy, Sarojini Naidu, helped established the Women’s Indian Association in 1917. As the first woman president of the Indian National Congress, her efforts inspired women to speak up and join the fight for Independence.
“When there is oppression, the only self-respecting thing is to rise and say this shall cease today, because my right is justice. If you are stronger, you have to help the weaker boy or girl both in play and in the work.”
The Nightingale of India
Perhaps one of the reasons that Sarojini Naidu is remembered and respected even today is because she understood that fearlessness and power don’t always come in the form of ruthless fighting and violence. With her lyrical verse, her contribution to the Non-Violent movement and her many collections of poems, she instilled nuanced ideas such as independence and freedom in the hearts and minds of people across the country.
The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death, and the Spring, her second and most popular collection of poems, is steeped in British Romanticism while also showcasing the nationalist sentiment that was taking root in Sarojini Naidu’s heart in those days. In her stunning verse, she showcases her grasp of the diversity of Indian people and the shape their daily lives take.
Walking Through the Hyderabad of Sarojini Naidu’s Childhood
Chowmahalla Palace
The seat of power of the legendary Nizams of Hyderabad, the palace is an ode to their flair for style and beauty. The palace’s architecture is heavily influenced by Persian, Rajasthani, Indo-Saracenic, and European styles. While the palace is now open to the public as a museum, the legacy continues to be handed down the family line.
Charminar
Quite literally the heart of Hyderabad, Charminar was built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the founding of Hyderabad and the end of epidemics caused by Golconda’s water shortage. Looking up at the four column structure from the road, and then climbing up to look at the city, you see the city in flux.
While you’re in Hyderabad
Don’t miss on the delicacies the city offers in and around Charminar – from the famous Karachi Bakery to Hotel Shadab. If you’re a history buff, make sure to stop by the Golconda Fort, a monumental 16th century fort by the Qutb Shahs. Speaking of the Qutb Shahs, do visit one of the most ambitious restoration projects in India in recent times – the magnificent granite Qutb Shahi domes.
Recommendations for Further Exploration
At Tushita, we marvel at India with you. After 45 years of travelling the country, we’re still enamoured by its beauty every day. From Ladakh, where Tushita was anointed by a Buddhist monk in 1977, to Tamil Nadu, where we worked with locals to showcase one of the oldest cultures in the world, we are partners in your journey to discover our part of the world.
Where should we go today?
Where should we go today?